Love abounds - though it's pricey to show it

It's time for some loving

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A single red rose for your true love tomorrow could set you back as much as $45, and a dozen up to $140.

But the prices don't seem to have taken the romance out of Valentines Day, with florists doing a good trade, and themed Valentines events selling out around Wellington.

Flowers On Featherston manager Hayley Fryer had more than 300 orders for Valentines Day deliveries so far.

"It's mainly roses, they're going for a dozen, unless people don't want to be too serious then they're sending just a normal bouquet."

Karen Pearce at Juliette Florists said it had "a stack" of orders for roses to be sent out on Thursday. "Presumably there are still a few romantic people out there."

Jane Evans, owner of Upper Hutt's Bud Florists, said: "Tomorrow it will be frantic. Guys are hopelessly renowned for leaving it till the last minute."

Carter Observatory's adults-only romantic stargazing evening, at $75 a couple, booked out on Monday afternoon after a couple of weeks of marketing.

"It is going to be a really good night, starting with a Romance Under the Stars planetarium show looking at some of the romantic and not so romantic stories hidden in the stars, with a glass of wine on arrival and some sweet treats," learning and programmes manager Clair Bretherton said.

Francoise Febvre, the owner of French restaurant La Cloche, said that its $180 three-course Valentines dinner was fully booked.

Boutique Miramar cinema The Roxy is running a six-course degustation menu with a glass of bubbles at $130 a head, including a pre-release screening of British comic Stephen Merchant's film I Give It A Year, limited to 14 couples. It sold out yesterday.

Wellington Zoo will be open only to people aged over 18 after 5pm tomorrow, with live music playing. It has picnic hampers available for order at $165, including wine and entry to the grounds.

Couples can even help zoo staff build love nests for little blue penguins.